TALLINN – As of next Monday, listed Estonian shipper Tallink Grupp will reduce prices on nearly 700 products in onboard shops operating on the Tallinn-Helsinki route, effective from the first departure.

The price reduction comes as a result of a decision adopted by the Estonian parliament June 13 to lower the excise duty on strong alcohol, beer and cider in Estonia by 25 percent from July 1, the shipper said in a press release.

"From our side, we promised as soon as the discussions started this spring on the subject of lowering the alcohol excise duty that Tallink will drop the prices in onboard shops immediately when the decision to lower the excise duty enters into force. Now, the decision will come into force next Monday and Tallink remains true to our word – the products are available immediately at the reduced price on our ships Megastar, Star, Silja Europa and Sea Wind from the first departure of the day," Paavo Nogene, CEO of Tallink Grupp, said.

In Tallink's onboard shops, the price drop due to lowered excise tax concerns approximately 700 products – a change that has kept the Tallink Duty Free team busy with updating the prices to meet the July 1 deadline since the announcement of the Estonian government's decision a couple of weeks ago.

"We are still of the same opinion, that the decision to lower the alcohol excise duty was the right decision as it will once again motivate millions of people travelling on the northern border of Estonia to buy products with Estonian excise duty and value added tax to take back home. Therefore, we also found that an immediate price drop onboard is the right step to take on our part. I strongly believe that cheap alcohol is most certainly not the main reason to visit Estonia or travel onboard our ships, however, it is inevitably a part of the wider competitive landscape. We now need to work hard and with equal determination to market Estonia as a fantastic tourism destination with so much more to offer in addition to good prices," Nogene added.

"Naturally, we also hope that our fellow Estonians will come to shop onboard, since many products are cheaper onboard compared to the onshore shops. Tallink is happy to welcome everyone – the summer is a great time to be onboard," Nogene said.

The Estonian parliament approved on June 13 a bill lowering excise duty rates on beer, cider and strong alcohol by 25 percent.

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